Box-filling machine.



No.' 360,877. PATLNTED JULY 2s, 1907.

A. L. F. MITCHELL.

BOX FILLINGA MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. so. 1906.

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PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

A. L. I'. MITCHELL BOX FIL-LING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IIILED AUG. 30.1906.

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A.. L. P. MITCHELL. BOX FILLING MAGHINL.

APPLIOATION'FILED A`UG.30. 1906.

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No, 860,877. PATLNTLD JULY 2s, 1907.

' A. I.. I. MITCHELL.

BOX FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 30. 1906.

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PATENTED JULY 28, 1907.

A. L. I. MITCHELL. BOX FILLING MUHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.30. 1906.

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PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

A. L. I. MITCHELL. BOX FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30.1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

ALBION L. F. MITCHELL, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES W. AIKEN, OF HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY.

BOX-FILLING MACHINE.

Specification of lLetters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1907'.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBION L. F. MITCHELL, of Hyde Park, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for automatically filling boxes or cartons which are closed at one end and open at the other. It has means for supplying finelydivided material to boxes, a conveyor for advancing boxes successively into position to receive material fed from the supplying means, and weighing mechanism for deecting the supply when a box has received a certain predetermined amount, and for starting the conveyer to remo've the filled box .and advance an empty box into position.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved weighing device and a novel actuator for causing deflection of the supply of material in order to obtain the greatest possible accuracy of weighing, together with rapid movement of the boxes into and out of filling position. z

Another object is to improve the driving connectio-ns so that the conveyer may be started immediately when a box has received its load.

To this end, therefore, the machine consists in an improvement on the apparatus described in my pending application for box-lling machine, filed March l2, i906, Serial No. 305,721, and contains the novel features hereinafter described and claimed, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which,`

Figure l represents a front elevationof the improved machine. Fig. 2 represents a plan view with the means for supplying material omitted. Figs. 3 and 4 represent respectively, a'plan View and a side elevation of the weighing devices. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the driving means and disconnectible clutch for the conveyer. Fig. 6 represents a sectional elevation of the same on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7

represents a perspective detail view of the guiding' supply conduit for material and the actuating' device therefor. Fig. S represents a perspective view of the clutch-controlling means opeiated by depression of the weighing platform and the device for elevating such platform. Fig. 9 represents a longitudinal section of the friction driving clutch. Fig. l represents a crosssection of the same on line l0-l0 of Fig. 9. Fig. ll represents a fragmentary elevation of a part of the box eonveyer, the weighing means and the means for elevating the weighing platform after the filled box has been removed therefrom. Fig. l2 represents a side el evation of a modified form of weighing mechanism.

lhe same reference characters indicate th e same parts in all the figures.

As in the application above referred to, the machine comprises a column l which supports a box conveyor or carrier 3, and a shield or chute carrier l above the box carrier. There is also a second column supporting a chute (i for supplying material, and a discharge conduit S pivoted below the chute (i. The box carrier is rotated by shaft 2 to which it is connected, and the latter is driven by a horizontal main drive shaft l5 having a pulley l5l over which passes a belt 1G which extends also over pulleys 17 1S and 19 on shafts 20 2l and 22, respectively. v The shafts 20 and 2l carry rolls or pulleys 23 and 2li over' which pass flexible endless conveyers 25 and 2G for feeding boxes or cartons 27 respectively to the carrier before filling, and away from the carrier after they have been filled.. The pulley 19 is loose on the shaft and has a recess 2S in its hub into which extends a sleeve 29 which has a fian ge 30 and is secured to the shaft 22 by a set-screw 3l. Between the flange 30 and hub of the pulley, and mounted ou sleeve 29, is disk 32 having a hub 35 entering the re-. cess 2S with longitudinal grooves 33 containing rolls 34. These rolls are greater in diameter than the thickness of the hub or sleeve 35 of the disk, and extend into depressions 36 in sleeve 29. A projecting tooth 37 is formed on the disk 32. When the radial end of this tooth is engaged by a latch, the disk 32 and sleeve 35 are held stationary with the rollers in the deepest parts of grooves 36, so that they do not engage the pulley, and the latter is free to revolve in the direction of the arrow, shown in Fig. l0, that is, in right-hand rotation. When the tooth is released, the friction of the pulley (which ,may be assisted by a spring S7, hereinafter described) causes sleeve 35 to turn and roll the rollers 34 up the inclined sides of the notches until they are crowded against the pulley hub, whereupon the pulley and sleeve 29 are locked and the shaft is caused to turn.

The delivering mechanism is the same as described in my application aforesaid, having gates in the bottom of the chute G which are opened and partially closed by gear segments $3 64;, arms 65, crank disk (i7, and chain '73 from the shaft l5. The gates allow a thin` stream of material to flow continuously and increase the amount every time they are opened by connection of a clutch, as described in said application.

The means for weighing the charge of material put into a box consists of a platform 5l located under the delivery and supported by a scale beam 53 to which it is pivotally connected and which is itself supported on knife edges between arms 55 extending from the rear column 5. An adjustable weight 57 counterbalanees the platform 5l and box 27 when anything less than a full charge is con tained therein.

The pivoted shiftable conduit S is normally located With its outlet above the weighing platform 5l, and is displaceable to deflect the stream flowing therethrough into another' box, byrnea-ns of an actuator' 58 pivoted to the arms 55 independently of the scale beam and connected by a link with the shiftable conduit. The

' free end of the swinging actuator' is normally upheld in the position shown in Fig. 4l by a weighted trip lever 160 having a lrar'dened wear' plate .161A whose edge underlies one edge of a proj c ion 162 depending fr'om the scale beam dir'ectly under' the axis ther'eof. 160 is pivot-ally morrnted in the forked end of a r'ock lever` .163 which is fulcrumed midway between its ends iny the end of a forked bracket 17S attached to the colrrmn 5. The other' end of the lever 163 is connected by a pivoted link 164, to an ear 165 for'med ou the actrrator'. lly reason of the connections just described, it is apparent that downwar'd pressure of the actuator rrpon the link 16-l causes upward pressure of the trip lever' 160 against the projection 162 near the center' of gravity of the scale-beam. The weight of the actuator may, therefore, be nearly7 if not quite, as gr'eat as that of the scale-beam. without lifting the knife edges from their' supports. The weight of the actuator is preferably as great as is consistent with the weight of the scale-beam, so that when it is tripped as her'einafter' explained, it may actuate the conduit S abruptly. The weighting of the trip lever 160 causes it to bear against an adjustable stoplscrew 166 mounted in an ear 167 formed on the lever 163 for the purpose of .fixing the position of the tri p lever with relation to the projection 162.

When the platform l is depressed by the weight of the load in a box7 the scale-beam is tilted and the projection 162 is swung backwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. l. The forward par't of the scale-beam during the first part of its descent leaves the actuator supported in a fixed position, but when the projection 1.62 swings so far as to disengage itself from the plate 16 l., the actuator is released and, by reason of its weight, swings downwardly until arrested by contact with the scale-beam. 1n so doing, the actuator moves the conduit S so as to deflect the stream of material issuing therefrom into an unfilled box following the one on the platform. After' the platform has moved the scalebcam enough to trip the conduit shifter'7 a finger 75) on the scale-beam engages a vertically moving rod S0, and further downward movement of the platform and box, depresscs this rod, which is fastened to a bell-crank lever 102 connected by a link 103 with an arm 10-1 on a rock-shaft 105. The latter rock-shaft extends from rear to fr'ont of the machine, and has on the fr'ont end a lever' 8l which lies beside a pr'ojection S2 on a latch lever' 83 pivoted to a strrd 8l. The latch lever carries a weight S5 which tends to hold the upper end S6 of the lever.

which is `formed as a tooth, into engagement with the disk 32 and tooth 37 thereof. This tooth 86 therefore constitutes the latch which normally holds the friction clutch out of connection, and prevents the carrier being rotated. Wheny however7 the weighing platform is depressed, arm S1 throws out the latch from engage'- ment with tooth 37 and permits the clutch to be connected and the carrier' actuated so as to remove the loaded box from the scale platform and substitute therefor an unfilled box. The clutch connects automatically, but in or'der' to facilitate and hasten the connection, l may employ spring S7 connected to the collar and disk 32, respectively7 tending to move the The lever latter in the direction to crowd the rollers 3f) against the pulley hub and sleeve 2t).

As soon as the loaded box has been removed from the platform the latter' is elevated by nreans of a cam 88 on the shaft 22 which bears upon a stud SS) on an arm. 5)() carr'ied by the rock-shaft 91 which has a sccond arm 92 beneath a roller93 on the lower' end of the bar or rod 80. This cam rotates once during the movement of thc carrier, which shifts the box s and in thus rotating it raises the arm 02 so as to elevate the platform quicker than this can be done by the action of weight 57 alone, and is their lowered as shown in Fig. S, so as to permit another.' depression of the platform. This motion of thc rod S0 also acts to release thc latch lever 81') from thc restraint of lever' Sl and allow it to disconnect the clutch. An arm 811 is formed on lever 8l so as to strike the hub of lever' 83 and arrest the rock-shaft 105 bcfore the .loaded box has descended below the level of the receiving surface 501, hereinafter described.

The conduit actuator' 5S is formed as a horscshoc shaped yoke of which the nriddle portion extends ovcr the scale-beam, aud is engaged thereby when thc latter rises. This movement of the scale-beam raises the actrrator and consequently lowers the trip lever 16() and swings the projection 162 forward again to initial position. The projection, in swinging forward, engages the plate 16.1. and thereby swings the levcr .160 on its pivot so as to disengage the lower end from the stopscrew 166. Continued downward movement ol' thc lever 160 carries the plate 161 below the edge of the projection 1.62, whereupon the gravity of the lcvcr causes it to assume its actuator-supj'it rting position as it is in Fig. if.

The boxes ar'e pushed by the carrier over an annular' surface which rises from. the delivery point of'thc conveyer belt 25 to the level of the raised position ol' the scale platform, while the boxes ar'e received by a second annular surface 501 at the level of the depressed position of the platform.

Fig. 12 illustrates the weighing and conduit-actuating mechanisms as provided with a modified form of tripping mechanism. This forni of actuatorstripping mechanism, while simpler' and cheaper of construction, is not as r'apid in operation as that shown in Figs. 2, Il and al, because the contacting faces of the two coperative tripping members aren so close to the weighing platform that they may become fouled by stray material from the filling apparatus and stick so as to retard the descent of the platform. ln this form the free end of the swinging actuator' is normally upheld in thc position shown, by a pivoted trip lcver 60 having a projection 61 underlying the edge of a central projection 62 of the swinging actuator. The trip lever' 60 is weighted so as to hold its projection 61 in actuator-supportiug position, and is connected with the scale-beam by a tension rod 74 pivoted to it and passing through a hole in an arm 75 extending downwardly from the scale-beam. A movable stop 76 bears against the rear side of the arm 75 and restrains the tendency of thc trip lever' to swing beyond the position in Fig. 3, while permitting it to move indcpendently of the scale-beam in the opposite direction. The trip lever' is pivotally mounted at 77 on an arm 7S extending forward fr'om the column 5, and is independent of the scale beam except for the linked connection described.

intermittently moving carrier for the boxes for placing them successively on the platform, a continuously-movalle driver for the carrier.y disconnectible therefrom. connecv tions operated by depression of said platform for throwing`- in the driver to start the carrier, and a single cam operated by said driver for raising the platform after each depression thereof.

l. In a box-tiltingv machine, weighing means for boxes being filled, including a movable supportingplatform Kthe carrier for acting on said arm to raise the bar and restore the platf'orm after each depression thereof.

il. ln a box-filling machine. weighing means for boxes being filled. including a movable supportii platform adapted to be depre sed by the \\'eight: of a filled box, an intermittently moving carrier f'or the boxes for placing,r them successively on the platform, a continuously-mo ible driver for the carrier7 disconnectible therefrom. a friction clutch between the driver and carrier automatically conuectible when unrestraintal, a latch adapted to engage a portion of said clutch and hohl it: disconnected. connections operated by depression of the platform for disengaging said latch to permit connection of the clutch and drivingr of the carrier, and a cam operative with the carrier for raising the platform after each depre.V ion and at the sa me time. permitting the latch to move into locking position.

l5. ln a bo.\ fillingI- machine, in combination willi a deflecting conduit for guiding material, a we' ling platform. a weighted oscillatory beam supporting the me, an actw alor adapted to actuate by gravity the conduit, and actuA ator-supporting means adapted to be held in actuator-supporting position by a portion of said os .illatory beam, and to be 1ele.etl thereby upon descent. of id platform.

lt'. in a boxilling machine, in combination with a de fleetingl conduit for guiding material, a weighingI- platform, a weighted oscillatory beam supporting the same, a gravityaetuated condnit-deflcctingl actuator, and actuator-support ing means adapted to engage an edge of said beam beneath the axis thereof and to be released from actuator-supportw ing position by movement of said eige when the platform descends.

1T. ln a box-filling machine, in combination with a, deflectinel conduit t'or uiding` material, a weighing platform, a wighted oscillatory beam supporting the same, a couduit-deflccting actuator, a projection on the beam, and a trip normally engaged with said projection to hohl said actuator, and thereby the conduit. in one position, said projection being displ.iceable by the movement of the beam upon depression of the platform, tio release the trip and allow the actuator to shift the conduit.

1S. ln a box-fillingl machine, in combination with a defleeting conduit for guiding.; material, a weighing platform, a weighted oscillatory beam supporting the same, a conduit-dellcctng actuator, a projection on the beam, lcvcr having a connection with said actuator \\'hereb to control the movements thereof, and an adjustable. trip carried b v said levcr adapted to bear upwardly against; said beamprojection when the platform is raised and retain the actuator in raised position. the twain-projection being disv placcablc upon the motion thereof produced b v depression of the platform so as to release the trip and allow the actuator to drop,

1n testimony whereof I have allixed my signature. in presence of two witnesses.

ALBION Il. li. Ml'ltlllfllil..

\\'itnesses z (I. l", brows'.

A. (j. lLvrnmN. 

